Wrong Agreement With The Devil

Morgan Ashford

“He’s a CEO of Techno and owner of three companies across the industries?!”

Ashilla’s voice cracked as the words left her lips. She stared at the screen of her cracked phone. The glow from it flickering against her stunned expression as she read lists of his companies.

She scrolled through those articles, news of his accident flooding the page. Videos, reports, photos. It had all happened the same day she was thrown into prison. No wonder she had no knowledge about him. Her world had come crashing down just as he did, though in completely different ways.

“What are the odds?” she whispered, her fingers frozen above the screen. Her heart pounded as the reality sank in.

The media once painted Morgan Ashford as the golden boy of the elite. A man with charm, wealth, and the kind of life most people only dreamed of. There were countless photos of him at galas, yacht parties, and charity events, always surrounded by great people and even more beautiful things.

And now, here he was. Alone. Paralyzed. Angry. Broken.

“No wonder he’s depressed,” Ashilla muttered, her voice tinged with empathy she hadn’t expected to feel.

Dozens of renowned doctors had tried to treat him. Some had flown in from other countries. All of them failed. Not because they were incompetent, but because Morgan refused their help. One by one, they’d all been shown the door.

Ashilla sat back, her mind racing.

“If I can help him .…” She trailed off, the thought too big to finish. But it lit a fire in her chest.

This wasn’t just about money anymore. It was about redemption, revenge, and a great milestone in her life.

“If I can do this, I won’t just save him. I’ll save myself, and bring back my reputation.”

Now, Ashilla had found a rare chance—the one that only comes once in a lifetime. The opportunity stood right before her eyes, and she would chase it with everything she had. Morgan’s recovery was no longer just a responsibility, it had become her purpose. Even if the path ahead was lined with sharp words and harsh rejection, she would face them all.

No matter how difficult he was.

Meanwhile, across town, Lara sat with a cold expression as she heard the news.

“She actually paid off the debt?” She asked.

It didn’t make sense. Ashilla’s family had been drowning in loans for years which were owed to the very bank where Lara’s uncle worked. And yet, barely two days out of the hospital, Ashilla had managed to pull together enough money to settle a huge portion of it.

“That’s impossible,” Lara muttered under her breath, suspicion growing like wildfire. Her jaw tightened. “She must’ve done something dirty.”

She turned sharply to the man standing beside her. He was a friend of one of those debt collectors.

“Find out what she’s been up to. I want the details.”

“Okay, Lara,” the man responded with a polite nod, already pulling out her phone to start the investigation.

***

***

The next morning, Ashilla stood once again at the grand entrance of the Ashford estate. Her posture straightens, her eyes more focused. She wasn’t here to beg or impress anyone. She was here to fight.

“Did he eat anything?” She asked Gabe as a maid walked to the kitchen with a tray full of cold food.

“Not a single bite.” Gabe replied quietly.

“Then, we should prepare something fresh for him,” Ashilla instructed.

Gabe, who was peeling a pineapple, suddenly stopped.

“I ... I don’t dare. He threw the last tray across the room,” he replied. For a moment, the demeanor within him was wavering.

“This time, I’ll take it,” Ashilla said without blinking.

Gabe looked at her in disbelief, as though she were volunteering to walk into a lion’s cage. Yesterday, he saw Ashilla was frozen after getting outside of his room, and now she looks brave and challenged.

“I’ll assign more guards outside his room then,” Gabe added cautiously.

Ashilla nodded. “That’s an effective prevention.”

When Ashilla got in, the room was just as dark and heavy as yesterday. The silence was suffocating.

Morgan didn’t even glance at her. He was propped up slightly in bed, eyes blank, hands resting stiffly on the sheets.

“You don’t seem surprised to see me,” Ashilla said, breaking the silence. Her voice sounds ready now.

“There were fifteen before you,” Morgan replied. His tone was flat and hollow. “Seven lasted until day two. You? Today will be your last.” He glared sharply at her.

But, this time, Ashilla didn’t flinch.

“Well, Mr. Morgan,” she said as she set the tray down beside his bed, “I plan to keep coming every day until you manage to walk out of this house on your own two feet.”

Morgan scoffed. As if he was just hearing the most laughable phrase in his life.

“You’re just another greedy doctor chasing the money Nicholas waved in front of you. And that big fat bonus if you manage the impossible.”

Ashilla’s brow arched, a small smirk tugging at her lips.

“Unfortunately, that’s true. I do need your money, Mr. Morgan. Desperately. And I doubt you expected me to be here out of charity or affection, right?”

Morgan’s expression darkened. His jaw clenched.

“Damn it,” he growled. “I wouldn’t accept your pity even if I were dying.”

Ashilla took a slow step forward, unshaken.

“Good,” she said softly. “Because I’m not here to pity you. I’m here to fix you.”

“I heard you haven’t eaten anything for a week,” Ashilla began, her voice calm but steady as she stepped closer. This may be the closest distance between them. “As you can see, today I brought you some food.”

Morgan didn’t even glance at the tray. His eyes, sharp and dark like a thunderstorm on the verge of breaking, fixated on her with clear annoyance.

“I won’t touch it,” he spat. “Take it away, and get out. Damn it! Just because I’m paralyzed, everyone thinks they can come and go from my room as they please.”

Ashilla raised an eyebrow, still holding the tray. “I did knock,” she said, trying to defend herself. “And this food—”

“How much is Nicholas paying you?” He cut her off. His voice was like a blade. “A thousand dollars? Three? A million? I’ll give you triple that amount if you leave now.” He offered.

She gave him a smile that didn’t quite reach her eyes. “That’s a tempting offer, Mr. Morgan. But unfortunately for you, I anticipated this kind of bargaining. And no, I don’t want more money. I want to help you recover.”

Morgan’s eyes narrowed. Suspicion glinted behind his words. “So you can earn publicity and gain a reputation by treating someone with my name?”

Ashilla was taken aback, but Morgan wasn’t sure if it was real or just pretending.

“You really are a genius,” She praised him sincerely. “That’s exactly what I plan to do.”

Morgan was almost surprised by her honesty about the purpose of her action. Most of the women he met always tried to hide her ambition by being cute or sweet.

But, Morgan managed to make his face don't seem impressed.

“It’s pointless,” He snapped. “Don’t waste your time. I’ll pay you five times more than whatever my brother promised. Just get your damn face out of my sight.”

Ashilla took a small step forward instead of back, as if she was challenging him. Her voice is cool, but firm. “You can’t make me leave, Mr. Morgan. You’re paralyzed.”

The words hung in the air like a slap. Morgan’s expression shifted for the first time. His jaw clenched tighter. Something bitter was off from his dark eyes. Those words apparently hit him more than he expected, not by the truth itself, but by how plainly she’d said it.

“What?” he muttered, eyes hardening.

“Why, surprised?” Ashilla tilted her head. “No one’s ever said it to your face, huh? Everyone’s been too afraid to call it what it is.”

His nostrils flared. “Don’t pretend you know me. You’re just a paid doctor. You work when you’re asked. You leave when you’re dismissed. You could never understand what it feels like to spend an entire year trapped in the same room, on this goddamn bed.” He burst out angrily.

Again, Ashilla managed to stay still in her place.

“I do understand,” she said quietly. Her voice dropped just a note, as if touching something too fragile to speak out loud.

“What?”

She shook her head. “Forget it. You’re right, Mr. Morgan. I don’t fully understand your pain. That’s why I’m not going to coddle you like a baby. Now sit up, straighten your back like an adult, and eat this pear peacefully.”

Ashilla offered him the plate, but Morgan stayed still. His jaw clenched as he glanced deep into her eyes. So Ashilla did something else. She picked up a slice of pear and took a bite for herself.

“It’s really sweet,” she said thoughtfully. “It must be expensive. Most people can’t afford fruit like this.”

He glared mockingly. “Are you trying to guilt-trip me?”

“No,” she said, chewing slowly. “I’m trying to remind you to be grateful. There are people out there who are paralyzed too. But they don’t have the luxury you do. They live in cramped rooms with no air conditioner, they eat leftover rice, and they still fight to live.”

“That’s not my problem.”

“No, but you are my problem now,” she snapped. “You’ve refused food for a week. You’re starting to feel tingling in your body, aren’t you? That’s because your cells are starved. Soon, your muscles will begin to waste away. You’ll be skin and bones, Morgan. And eventually, you won’t even be in this room anymore. You’ll be hooked up to machines in a hospital bed.”

There was a flicker of fear—just a flicker—in his gaze. He looked away, jaw tightening.

“That’s why I’d rather be euthanized,” he murmured.

Ashilla exhaled slowly. She walked closer and crouched slightly beside the bed, her voice gentler now. “There’s a time for that, Mr. Morgan. But not now. Right now, stop being a bitter man who lashes out at everyone because he can’t accept the truth. Stop scaring everyone away with your bad temper. You’re scared. I get it. But you’re also strong and you’ve survived. That means something. So let’s fight. If we fail ….” Ashilla stopped, looking hesitant to continue. Her eyes darkened with a bitter truth. “If we fail, I’ll give you what you want.”

Morgan looked at her. Their eyes met as the room went silent. For the first time, Ashilla found a glimpse of emotion in his eyes.

Morgan didn’t speak for a long moment. He studied her, like he was seeing her clearly for the first time. The fire in her eyes, the sharp curve of her words, the way she didn’t flinch around his rage, and how her eyes flickered hesitately, as if she was afraid to lose him.

He may sound crazy, but it all made her unexpectedly attractive.

“If I eat,” he said finally, his voice low and rustled. Suddenly, his lips curved into a small grin. The very first small grin that ever shaped on his gorgeous face.

“What would you give me if I do? A passionate kiss?”